Guide to USA
Posted on Jun 13, 2008 under USA | No CommentUSA
The world’s most powerful and most inventive nation. All 3.6 million square miles of it. Say ‘USA’ and the instant images come thick and fast. But there’s more to the US than legends and icons. You can follow the heartbeat of America through New York’s pulsating Big Apple and other exciting cities. Through jaw-dropping vistas of mountains and deserts, forests and canyons, beaches and fjords. Through amazing regional contrasts of accents and lifestyles. Through a brief but dramatic history. And, of course, through those friendly citizens as colourful as the scenery.
Catch up with the future. Shop around the clock. Explore America’s Great Outdoors. Swop the everyday for a little Disney fantasy. Play golf in a desert oasis. Try a little California dreaming beneath Pacific palms. There’s a USA for everyone.
USA Adventure
That American Great Outdoors is the key to a whole raft of ‘adrenaline sports’. The Florida Keys and Gulf of Mexico coast offer just about every kind of watersports activity, while California’s Pacific shores are the place for some serious surfing. Inland you can choose from canoeing, kayaking and white-water rafting in fabulous surroundings, while on terra firma there are countless venues for hiking, mountain-biking, horse-riding and climbing – and skiing and snowboarding for winter visitors.
Nightlife & Party with Locals
In the USA’s great cities 24/24 is the norm and there’s an awesome supply of bars, discos and nightclubs designed to keep night-owls from their beds. In flamboyant settings like Las Vegas and Miami Beach ‘entertainment’ is a way of life and dawn comes all too soon! Even in desert resorts like Scottsdale and Palm Springs sampling all the nightlife on offer will prove an impossible challenge.
Gourmet Cuisine & Dining Out
Dining options here reflect the ethnic diversity of the USA itself. Whether you’re a fast-food addict or fine-dining gourmet you’ll not have to look far for a tempting venue. If your tastes are global a host of options awaits in every major city (New York alone has 17,000 restaurants). Resort hotel and restaurant menus tell the same story. So if your palate demands variety then choose from European, Oriental, Indian, Middle Eastern and Latin-American options – not to mention Caribbean, Cajun Creole and the very latest fusion cuisines.
World’s Best Scuba Dive Sites
With over 1,000 miles of coastline, Florida has a huge variety of marine habitats, with both shore-entry dives and wreck dives. Its clear waters and warm Gulf Stream currents make the lower Atlantic coast very popular for year-round diving. Best are the 31 islands of the Florida Keys, on whose Atlantic side lies the Florida Reef, North America’s only living coral garden. Key Largo is home to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. On the Pacific coast California’s Channel Islands are major dive spots that offer something for all divers. Santa Barbara Island is a unique favourite thanks to its large sea lion population.
World Class Golf Courses
The terms ‘golf’ and ‘USA’ are synonymous in the minds of many enthusiasts. The United States has about half of the world’s 30,000 courses. Here you’ll find some of the of the world’s finest championship venues – yet with a large number that can provide rewarding play for all levels of skill. The desert states of Arizona and Nevada are awash with fabulous settings, including the world-famed Scottsdale courses. Like its theme parks, Florida’s golf courses vie to be the most extravagant and impressive of their kind. And nestled between California’s coast and mountains are a range of pristine sunlit courses with that true Californian style.
Family Holidays
From its larger-than-life cities and legendary landmarks to its superb Pacific, Gulf and Atlantic beaches, from its fantasy theme parks to the vast horizons of its Great Outdoors – the USA is one of the best family destinations you could choose. In most cases children are extremely well catered for at resort hotels - and will revel in the excitement of it all.
USA – Sightseeing & Activities
Whatever your plans, there’s one thing you can be sure of when visiting the USA – it’s big! This is a country that will keep you on your toes with all there is to see and do on holiday. Don’t be too ambitious. Allow plenty of time to enjoy the spontaneous and unexpected. They’re all part of the fun!
WHAT TO SEE
The East Coast
New York
The landmarks and legends of New York are inexhaustible. Some are iconic, Others everyday and familiar. The Manhattan skyline, the glitter of Broadway, the glamour of Fifth Avenue, the Empire State Building, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, the Lincoln Center, Central Park, Yellow Cabs . . . the names just keep coming.
Boston
However long you allow here, it will never be enough! New England’s Boston is no less vibrant, cosmopolitan and compulsive – and mixes contemporary flair with a garnish of colonial history. Busy modern boulevards, the quaint old cobbled streets of the Beacon Hill district, the wide open spaces of Boston Common and the Charles River waterfront – Boston is a metropolitan tour de force. It’s also the gateway to New England, perhaps the most historic corner of the USA and certainly one of the most beautiful.
Florida
Miami Beach, Palm Beach & Key Biscayne
‘The Sunshine State’ can offer you any setting and style to suit. From the Atlantic beaches of legendary Miami Beach with its trendy Art Deco district to the sophisticated luxury surroundings of Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Key Biscayne.
Florida Keys, Gulf of Mexico & Orlando
From the islands and watersports-orientated world of the Florida Keys to the gentler shores of the Gulf of Mexico whose sunlit white beaches defy excess activity. And then, by contrast, there’s Orlando, ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’, where the activity never stops!
The West Coast
San Francisco
This is the USA California-style, long a magnet for fortune-seekers and a world where the American Dream comes into its own. Effervescent San Francisco more than lives up to its name, with hills and waterfront framed by the epic Golden Gate Bridge - and those cable cars, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown just as you’ve seen them on the silver screen.
Los Angeles
Big, brash and bemusing, part-city and part-legend, ‘LA’ has a mood and a setting for every taste – be it shopping in Beverly Hills, star-spotting in Hollywood, admiring the art exhibits at the Getty Centre or just people-watching beside the beach at Santa Monica.
San Diego
Down South, towards the Mexico border, sun-drenched San Diego is the perfect family destination, whose beaches, watersports, parks, galleries, open-air markets, fascinating Old Town and renowned Zoo and Sea World will all prove too much to fit into just one visit!
The Desert
Scottsdale & Palm Springs
When it comes to harnessing the strong sun, blue skies, fresh air and oasis springs of the desert to create swish garden resort settings then the USA takes some beating. Exclusive Scottsdale in Arizona’s ‘Valley of the Sun’ and California’s prestigious Palm Springs both provide sophisticated living in the most relaxing of environments, with a suntan virtually guaranteed.
Las Vegas
Nevada’s larger-than-life Las Vegas, desert resort and gambling capital of the world, is a place where virtual reality can sometimes seem to take charge – and whose spectacular stage shows, theme parks and 24/7 activity ensure this is ‘the City that Never Sleeps’.
WHAT TO DO
The East Coast
New York
You’ll want to take in those unique ‘Big Apple’ items like a trip on the Staten Island Ferry with its grand harbour views – and up to the 89th floor observatory of the Empire State Building. As well as the countless classic sights, though, be sure to include some quintessentially NY experiences like an evening on the town with a Broadway theatre visit. Some shopping in Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Sak’s Fifth Avenue and other famed city department stores. A helicopter flightseeing trip. And dining in some of the 17,000 restaurants!
Boston
It’s not called ‘America’s Walking City’ for nothing. Obvious sightseeing ‘musts’ are to follow the historic ‘Freedom Trail’ that unfolds the story of American independence. Browse the boutiques of Faneuil Hall, Newbury Street and Copley Place. Take a harbour cruise on the Charles River; visit the Boston Tea Party & Ship Museum. And much more! – how long did you say you were staying? The city also makes a great first or last stopover if you’re planning a New England self-drive tour.
Florida
Miami Beach. Palm Beach & Key Biscayne
Visitors to Miami Beach come for its beaches, clubs, bars and the lively mood of trendy Art Deco-rich South Beach, the restaurants and shops of elegant Coral Gables - and classy Coconut Grove with its bars and cafés. At exclusive Palm Beach long sandy beaches and world-class golf and watersports compete with the designer stores and refined art galleries of glamorous venues like Worth Avenue, as well as malls and speciality boutiques.
Florida Keys, Gulf of Mexico & Orlando
In the Florida Keys the most popular leisure pursuits capitalise on the natural setting - with snorkelling, diving, fishing and boating the main activities. Nature reserves offer hiking, cycling and wildlife-spotting. The sophisticated resorts of the Gulf of Mexico feature an array of shops, boutiques and exceptional recreation (golf especially) and entertainments. There’s easy access to secluded islands and the Everglades. Orlando, of course, means spectacular Universal Orlando® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort – but the vast Sea World and International Drive with its 5-mile strip packed with shops, malls, restaurants, bars and theme events will also keep you busy!
The West Coast
San Francisco
The landmark sights of ‘Everybody’s Favourite City’, demand exploration by cable-car and on foot – go easy on the hills! Then take a boat trip from Fisherman’s Wharf to admire the Golden Gate Bridge. Be tempted in the designer shops on Union Street and department stores on Union Square. Indulge yourself in restaurants serving cuisines from every corner of the world. And visit the glorious wine country of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
Los Angeles
The city’s sightseeing highlights will easily fill several days. Allow time to visit at last one of the film studios and Disneyland. Be sure to take in beach-style ‘LA’ at Santa Monica or Malibu. Check-out the designer boutiques and galleries on Beverly Hills’ ultra-chic Rodeo Drive. And plunge into the legendary nightlife scene on the Sunset Strip and in Mid-Wilshire.
San Diego
A distinctly beach and sea-orientated city and resort, with an impressive choice of watersports, as well as a year-round festival and concert programme. Enjoy its many galleries and museums, open-air markets, smart shops and restaurants. Take an evening cruise to see the lights of the city coming on and enjoy some whale-watching by day (Dec - Mar).
The Desert
Scottsdale & Palm Springs
Scottsdale lies in an oasis setting of stylish homes, parks, lakes and some 200 golf courses. The Sonora Desert offers hot-air ballooning and desert jeep-drives – while stylish downtown shopping, restaurants and entertainments meet most other holiday needs! Exclusive Palm Springs, too, is famed for its 80 golf courses, superb entertainments and nightlife. Explore the Living Desert Wildlife Park and the vast Joshua Tree National Park, enjoy jeep adventure tours, riding in the Indian Canyons, hot-air ballooning and the cable car 8,000 ft up to the San Jacinto State Park.
Las Vegas
Dull moments in Las Vegas? Impossible. Its plethora of casino hotels, theme parks, lavish star-studded stage shows, vast hotel shopping arcades, over 40 world-class golf courses and other attractions all see to that. Don’ forget to book a jet helicopter after-dark flight giving spectacular views over this amazing City of Lights.
USA – Events & Weather
EVENTS IN THE USA
‘Events’ and the USA are synonymous. Whether it’s a big city or a beach, desert or mountain resort you can be pretty sure that a celebration, exhibition or sporting happening of some kind won’t be long in coming . . . Be they national or local, there are few occasions when the visitor is not mighty welcome.
New York
The Big Apple is rarely without exhibitions, concerts, celebrations or competitions of note at any time of the year – too numerous to list here. Among many key events are Chinese New Year celebrations (January), the St Patrick’s Day Parade (March), the Manhattan Easter Parade, the Ninth Avenue International Food Festival (May),. The Great July 4th Festival, the Lincoln Center Festival (July), Central Park Summerstage (June-August) and the US Tennis Open (August – September).
Boston
Like New York, Boston has a prodigious round-the-year events calendar. An arbitrary list includes the St Patrick’s Day Parade (March), the New England Spring Flower Show (March), Patriot’s Day Celebration (April), the Dragon Boat Festival (June), the Fourth of July Celebrations, Boston Harborfest (June – July), Bastille Day (July), the Boston Film Festival (September).
Miami Beach
Miami Beach folk love to throw a party – and if it’s outdoors so much the better. Major events include the Miami Beach Festival of the Arts (February), the Coconut Grove Arts Festival (February), Calle Ocho Cuban Carnival and Street Party (March), Florida Dance Festival (June – July), Fourth of July Celebrations, Afro-Cuban Dance Festival (July), Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival (August) and Miami Carnival (September – October).
San Francisco
Diversity is all in San Francisco. Events indoors, outdoors, sporting, cultural and unclassifiable – they’re all here! Among some key occasions are the Chinese New Year Parade (March), the Grand National Rodeo, Horse & Stock Show (April), the Northern California Sailing Season Opening Day on the Bay (April), the San Francisco International Film Festival (April – May), the Bay to Breakers Foot Race for up to 75,000 runners (May), the Fourth of July Fireworks, the San Francisco Lovefest Dance Music Celebration (September), the San Francisco Blues Festival (September), Castro Street Fair (October) and the San Francisco Jazz festival (October – November).
Los Angeles
Entertainment is what ‘LA’ is all about and the events diary is worthy of a city of this size and reputation. A few dates are the Chinese New Year Celebrations (March), the Los Angeles Film Festival (June – July), the Long Beach Jazz Festival (August), the Hollywood Bowl SummerSounds Festival (July – August), the Hollywood Film Festival (October) and the West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnival (October).
WEATHER IN THE USA
It’s impossible, of course, to categorise ‘the weather’ of a continent in a few words. Between them our cities and resorts offer climates and temperatures for all tastes – from desert to high mountain and tropical to temperate. Study the form and check whether you hotel has air-conditioning and/or central heating, according to need!
USA – Weddings & Honeymoons
YOUR WEDDING IN THE USA
If you’re thinking of getting married in the USA then the obvious choice of venue is Las Vegas! There’s a wedding them and venue to suit most tastes – and the glamorous backdrop of this glittering resort will add a host of memories to your special day.
Top Value Luxury Holidays Direct Wedding Packages: In Las Vegas you can take advantage of our special top-value Wedding Packages with the ceremony in The Little Chapel of the Flowers, and including transport from your hotel, bridal bouquet, groom’s buttonhole and wedding photographs automatically included. A wide variety of personalised extras can also be added. Special themed ceremonies are also available. In New York we can arrange your ceremony at the top of the Empire State Building or in Central Park – please ask for details.Friends & Family are welcome to witness the ceremony by prior arrangement and special gala meals can be planned for the party.
For full details of Luxury Holidays Direct USA Wedding Packages please visit http://www.luxuryholidaysdirect.com .
